AUBURN, Alabama -- Attrition struck Auburn's safety position over the offseason, leaving the Tigers thin after the dismissal of Demetruce McNeal halfway through training camp.

And with Josh Holsey turning in double duty as both boundary safety and dime back, Auburn's defense needed somebody to fill in at safety.

Senior Ryan Smith stepped into the gap. Smith is tied for sixth on the team with 17 tackles this season, forced a fumble and played a bunch of snaps for a Tigers secondary that has been stretched thin due to injuries.

"He's doing excellent out there. We really trust him coming in and stepping up big. He had like three pass deflections last week, almost had an interception the week before," Holsey said, referring to the Tigers' in-house statistics and grading process done by the coaches. "He's on a good mindset this year to really be focused and stop everything that comes his way."

Auburn's defense has struggled in terms of yardage this season, but the Tigers rank sixth in the SEC in scoring defense.

Without the contributions of Smith and fellow senior Ryan White, Auburn's secondary might have been forced to play a couple of youngsters who aren't ready yet.

White has started the past two games in place of injured starter Chris Davis and ranks second on the team with five pass breakups.

"The way they've performed on the field, their leadership. They've bought into what our coaches have asked them to do with great attitudes. Both of them have even stepped up into a leadership role," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. "We've tried to empower our seniors and so far as a group they've done a solid job."

Smith, in particular, has allowed Holsey to use his natural skills as a corner extensively in the Tigers' dime package.

"Ryan Smith has come in and almost been the starter with as much as we’ve played Holsey up at the dime," Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said.

Smith, a bigger player and a natural safety at 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, brings a physical component to Auburn's back line, a group that figures to be tested against a deep Ole Miss wide receiver corps.

And even with Davis and fellow corner Jonathan Jones possibly returning against Ole Miss, Smith figures to stay in the rotation.

Auburn needs his style of play in the secondary.

"When he presses and really gets in people's faces, it really helps him a lot," Holsey said. "He's been here, he's a senior this year, so he's really smart. He knows the game really well."